Ye olde notebook:
n Apparently all the noise from West Virginia University's first home football game wasn't cheers for the Mountaineers.
According to reports, operations at Milan Puskar Stadium were, let's say, less than optimal. Mountaineer athletic director Shane Lyons, however, said Game 2 went more smoothly.
"Fortunately I haven't heard any complaints, other than, obviously, the heat [from the Youngstown State game]," Lyons said. "The concession lines got better and quicker. The entrances into the game were a lot better and quicker.
"We had some issues that first weekend with scanners not working. We got that rectified. Then, last week, the concession stands were very good."
Lyons said vendor Sodexo made modifications after the Missouri game. Also, CSC (Contemporary Services Corporation) worked on the scanning process.
"What has always been a problem with us is the rush to the gate," Lyons said. "It's like everyone leaving work right at 5 o'clock. For a noon game, everyone wants to leave the tailgate at 11:35 and be in the gate in five minutes to watch the band. Now, if you were in the line at 11:15, I'm sure [for the Missouri game] you got in. This past week, with a 2 o'clock game, I'm sure it was more sporadic instead of one massive rush."
Oddly perhaps, Lyons said concession sales for the Missouri game were higher than any at Puskar Stadium since the lightning-delayed Marshall game in 2011. ("That was, what, 11 hours long?" Lyons said.)
"The silver lining was high concession sales," said the AD. "The bad part was the lines were longer. In this [Youngstown State] game, we tried to alleviate the pressure on the concession stands by having separate stations for water and Cokes from beer stands.
"Again, we had problems with the new stadium construction and some of our scanners. We had issues; I'm not going to hide behind that. But I think this week we fixed them and I'm hoping we have a big crowd for Kansas State like we did for Missouri."
n While I had Lyons on the line, I asked his take on scheduling FCS football schools. WVU recently added Youngstown State on the 2018 Mountaineer schedule and James Madison for 2019.
The Big Ten has said its teams should not schedule FCS teams. Back in September of 2015, WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen called for Power 5 teams to stop the practice, although he was indirectly pointing at Baylor's weak non-conference slate.
"Look at our scheduling," Lyons said this week. "Eleven of the 12 schools we have coming up [on each schedule] are Power 5 institutions. Also, there's sometimes a very fine line between FBS and FCS teams.
"People were looking at it from a strength-of-schedule viewpoint and what the CFP people were going to look at. Well, guess what? Clemson, Florida State, Alabama and Oklahoma all had FCS schools on their schedules last year."
In fact, all did except Oklahoma. Clemson played Wofford, Alabama played Charleston Southern and Florida State played Chattanooga.
"Plus, we need a home game. I can get a 'buy' game against an FBS school but the going rate now is $1.4 million, while an FCS school is $500,000. From a business standpoint, which one do you go with?"
Also, I asked if there had been any discussion about restarting a series with Marshall.
"We haven't talked in the last year," Lyons said.
n As you might have noticed, the Big 12 is off to an awful start to the 2016 season. At this early date, only three teams - Texas, Baylor and WVU - have 2-0 records. No, I don't give Oklahoma State a pass because Central Michigan got an illegal untimed down. The Cowboys should never have been in a position to lose. Texas Tech's defense, meanwhile, must be horrid because we know that of Arizona State, which beat the Red Raiders, is terrible. (See Cactus Bowl.) And TCU, after all its posturing, lost to Arkansas, which was picked to finish fifth in the SEC West.
(Quick lesson: If you're a fan of a team, do NOT jump up and down over preseason or early poll votes. TCU fans did because I left the Horned Frogs off my preseason ballot. The school, which began at No. 13, is now out of the Associated Press Top 25. On the flip side, Tennessee fans were up in arms because I dropped the Vols out of the Top 25 after their team almost lost to Appalachian State. Reason: Zero had been earned. Yet after the Vols whipped Virginia Tech - and looked impressive doing so - bingo, they appeared on my ballot at No. 16. If you build respect, the votes will come.)
Anyway, yes, the Big 12 is against the ropes. The league looks very much like a long shot to gain a College Football Playoff spot unless No. 11 Texas wins out (which it won't) or No. 14 Oklahoma wins out (which it won't) and Houston likewise rolls.
Also, Baylor is a dark horse. The program is going downhill fast, but the Bears have enough talent to make a run. WVU, meanwhile, could make noise if it gets its act together. The Big 12 is there for the taking.
n And finally ...
I spoke to Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick on Monday about football programs hiring "analysts." There was something he said that didn't make the column, yet it still stuck with me.
"I had an opening in our athletic department for the academic advisor," Hamrick said. "I received a resume from someone from an SEC school that was the academic advisor for the wide receivers. Just the wide receivers."
Think about that.
Just think about that.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.